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The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

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    Lt 6, 1857

    [October 8, 1857, Battle Creek, Michigan]1

    The original gives no date or place of writing. The main clue to its date is its similarity to Lt 3, 1857 (Oct. 8). Both letters recount a vision given at “Monterey,” both deal with the state of affairs at the Review and Herald office in Battle Creek, both address Uriah and Harriet Smith, and both make mention of the discouragement of the Review editor, Uriah Smith. It seems quite probable that both letters are partial descriptions of the same Monterey, Michigan, vision given on October 8, 1857. The same Monterey vision also included counsel for Sylsbre B. Rumery (Lt 9, 1857 [Oct.]) and a general call for sacrificial giving (see Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pp. 170-178 and Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 239-250). As with Lt 3 we do not know the actual date of writing of Lt 6. Its content suggests that it might be the letter of “reproof” Ellen White later reported sending to the Smiths sometime in 1858 (see Lt 7, 1860 [June]). If so, this letter could have been written some months after the vision.

    1EGWLM 534.1

    Letter to
    Uriah Smith.2

    Identity: The references in this letter to “Brother Uriah” as editor, closely related to “Harriet” and “James,” positively identity him as Uriah Smith, resident editor of the Review, married to Harriet and closely associated at the Review office with James White.

    1EGWLM 534.2

    This letter is published in entirety in S. T. Belden, G. W. Amadon, and William Hall, To Brother J. N. Andrews and Sister H. N. Smith (PH016), pp. 25-28.

    Advice and encouragement to Uriah Smith, who has considered resigning from his post as Review editor. An appeal to Harriet Smith to be a help, not a hindrance, to her husband.1EGWLM 534.3

    Dear Brother Uriah:1EGWLM 534.4

    While at Monterey3

    See: Note 1.

    [Michigan], we had a most powerful meeting. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me. I was shown in vision many things; was shown the straitness of the way, the necessity of each understanding their own heart, the danger of deceiving themselves as to their true state and be found wanting. I saw again the state of things in the office.4

    The Review and Herald publishing office.

    The cloud still hangs over it; all is not right there.1EGWLM 534.5

    I saw that the Lord had called you to occupy the place you are now in, and God has not released you. God has not selected or designed Brother Waggoner [Joseph Harvey Waggoner]5

    Identity: Before becoming a Sabbatarian Adventist, Joseph Harvey Waggoner had edited the Sauk County Democrat in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and since 1855 he had been a corresponding editor for the Review. No doubt it was J. H. Waggoner, with his editorial experience, that Uriah Smith had in mind as his possible replacement.

    See: Harry Ellsworth Cole, A Standard History of Sauk County, Wisconsin, vol. 1, p. 443; search term “Waggoner” Words of the Pioneers.

    for the office to occupy your place; there are serious objections to this. The Lord has laid upon James [James Springer White] the duty of traveling a portion of the time and He calls you to throw your whole soul into the work, be devoted to God, devoted to the work. Let your influence tell in the meeting, tell in the office, and your own soul will flourish, and a saving, gathering influence will be shed around.1EGWLM 534.6

    Dear Brother, the Lord will help your lack. But I saw there has been expected more of you than they ought to expect, and that that is not in you. It is not in you to take all that care, burden and responsibility that some others do. If you had been able to bear responsibility and care, you could fully fill the place as an editor, and the care and responsibility would not be laid upon James.6

    Although James White had been relieved of many of his earlier editing and publishing responsibilities by the reorganization of 1855, he remained sole legal owner of the Review and Herald publishing house and was some sort of general manager, without officially carrying that title. As such he would have to fill in for any shortcomings in the work of the newly appointed resident editor, Uriah Smith.

    For surveys of the organization of the publishing work during the 1850s, see: SDAE, s.v. “Publishing Department”; Richard W. Schwarz and Floyd Greenleaf, Light Bearers, pp. 81, 82.

    1EGWLM 535.1

    I saw that there has been feeling that James was too sensitive, too strong feeling; but I saw that someone must have the care and feel, and feel strongly too, and move decidedly in the office.7

    In a memorial tribute to James White in 1881 Uriah Smith speaks of “one of the strongest traits in his [James White's] character, which was his pre-eminent love for the cause in which he was engaged. To that he subordinated all else; for that he was willing to renounce home and friends.”

    See: U. Smith, In Memoriam, pp. 34, 35.

    There is danger of some expecting too much of you, and there is danger of your expecting too little.1EGWLM 535.2

    I saw that James and Brother Waggoner erred in not freely talking their fears to you. You were deceived as to their feeling and acted under a mistaken idea of things, and you and Harriet [Harriet Newall Smith] were wrong in moving in such haste, without first getting a thorough understanding of the matter. Your action in the matter displeased God. You made a wrong move in introducing the matter where it should not be mentioned, when your past experience was sufficient to teach you the effect that a great fire is kindled by a little matter.8

    No further information has been found relating to the incident alluded to here.

    1EGWLM 535.3

    I saw if you break away from that office, your happiness and peace ends. But where you lack now, it is supplied.1EGWLM 535.4

    God has not released James from the office. He has the care, responsibility and burden, and God has not released you from your place. I saw like two brothers, true yoke-fellows should you labor together, your interest one. You have shut up too much the interest to yourself; together should you labor, unitedly together should your hearts be knit so close that Satan cannot get a wedge between you. United together can your interest tell, both working together in union. Your interest should not be divided. God is not pleased with this.9

    Whether this call for unity between Uriah Smith and James White was heeded is not known, but three years later the problem had resurfaced. “Uriah and James,” wrote Ellen White in June 1860, “were shown me a distance apart from each other, not united. Darkness was in the office.”

    See: Lt 7, 1860 (June). For an analysis of the Smith-White relationship, see Eugene F. Durand, Yours in the Blessed Hope, Uriah Smith, chap. 18.

    You have no separate interest in that office in the sight of God. Your work is one, your interest one, and here you have been too close, not as united as you should be.1EGWLM 535.5

    I saw that the Lord has seen fit to bring Harriet in a place where she can work for the Lord and help you,10

    Harriet Smith, a person of literary talent, had earlier worked at the Review during the period 1854-1855. She rejoined the staff in the spring of 1857, shortly before her marriage.

    See: Obituary: “Harriet N. Smith,” Review, Mar. 30, 1911, p. 23.

    and I saw she must be on her watch to help when it is needed, to speak a word in season when it is needed, a word right and not on the wrong side. She must bear in mind that she can help, and must be very cautious not to hinder. She will have trials and if they are borne well, she will not lose the reward. The Lord's eye is upon every doing; His eye sees every influence.1EGWLM 536.1

    Harriet, I saw that where you could hinder more than help is here. Let your mind be affected by any wrong influence, Uriah is affected by the same. You have watched John's [John Nevins Andrews]11

    Identity: The mutual interplay of negative influence between Harriet, Uriah, and “John” mentioned here is described in considerable detail in Lts 7 and 8, 1860. Lt 8, addressed to John Nevins Andrews, mentions the impact of his opinions on Harriet Smith (his sister-in-law) throughout the 1850s. “I saw that you have not taken a decided position in regard to the past, and your position influences Harriet and Uriah much.” It seems very likely, therefore, that the “John” of Lt 6, 1857, is John Nevins Andrews. (See also note 12 below.)

    opinions and views, and they have had more effect and influence with you than is due, and then the door is open for your views or understanding to affect Uriah. Here is a door open for the enemy to work and you both must be on your guard. Satan will get in if he can. John is not standing in the light.12

    Although J. N. Andrews had made an outstanding contribution to the Sabbatarian movement in the early 1850s in terms of his preaching and scholarly writing, his attitude toward the visions and the leadership of James White was ambivalent for many years, until about 1860. Andrews later explained that during this period, while he had no “feelings of enmity” toward the Whites, he “lacked to some extent that living faith in the visions” (1862). Ellen White attributed some of Andrews's problems to the negative influence of his own family and that of the Cyprian Stevens family, all of whom had a long history of skepticism toward the visions and of resentment toward James White's robust leadership style. The fact that both Uriah Smith and J. N. Andrews married into the Cyprian Stevens family led to a situation in which these prominent leaders were to some extent influenced by their respective wives against James White and against the visions. Judging by the tone of Lt 6, Harriet (Stevens) Smith, recently married to Uriah, had not at the time of writing (1857) adopted a strongly critical stance toward the Whites, but this became very evident by 1860, as revealed in the detailed account of Lt 7, 1860.

    See: J. N. Andrews to “Brother White,” Feb. 2, 1862; idem, “Confession,” Review, Dec. 17, 1861, p. 22; Ellen G. White, Lt 7, 1860 (June); Ron Graybill, “The Family Man,” in Harry Leonard, ed., J. N. Andrews: The Man and the Mission, pp. 14-41.

    1EGWLM 536.2

    I have seen that you could have the blessing of God resting upon you, could live in the hearts of the people of God. You must with confidence and courage go forward, have faith in God, draw strength from Jesus. Unitedly you can serve Him, unitedly obtain the victory, and unitedly share the reward.1EGWLM 537.1

    I saw that great was your privilege. You can enjoy sweet union with God, with childlike confidence can you rely upon Him. And Harriet, you can by occupying a right position, living in the counsel of God, help Uriah more than any other one and more than you think you can.1EGWLM 537.2

    Never act or talk on the doubtful side, but let the weight of your words and acts be to strengthen faith, to dispel doubts. You have not realized for years the responsibility that rests upon you. God has given you a taste of eternal joys to lead you on, to reach out, to hope, to elevate and bring you closer to Himself. God requires you to look to these manifestations of His grace and love. These abundant blessings were for some special object. When much is given, much will be required. If your influence is governed by the Spirit of God, you can do much. If it is not sanctified by the Spirit of God, it will tell much on the wrong side.1EGWLM 537.3

    You have felt too much that it was but a little matter or but little consequence what you may say or do. Take heed. There is more importance attached to these things than you have thought of. The grace of God can sanctify and purify your judgment, and together can you labor for the interest of God's cause.1EGWLM 537.4

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